DANIEL O'CONNELL: THE EMANCIPATOR Documentary Screening

Daniel O'Connell was once not only the most famous man in Ireland, but one of the most famous men on earth. And you probably have never heard of him.

Join us for a screening (1 hr) and panel discussion (30 min) of DANIEL O'CONNELL: THE EMANCIPATOR at the University of Notre Dame's Debartolo Performing Arts Center to learn more about Daniel O'Connell's legacy on democracy, equality, and human rights in the fight for Catholic Emancipation in Ireland, the Abolitionist Movement in the US, and beyond.

More on the film:

In 2025, Ireland and the world commemorated the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O’Connell – a visionary statesman, reformer, and champion of human rights. To mark the occasion, a powerful new documentary, Daniel O’Connell: The Emancipator, was released, offering a fresh exploration of the life and enduring impact of one of Ireland’s greatest figures.

This one-hour documentary, produced by Create One in association with University College Cork, the University of Notre Dame, and RTÉ (Ireland's national broadcaster), traces O’Connell’s journey from Kerry lawyer to global advocate for justice. Known as The Liberator, he secured Catholic Emancipation, pioneered non-violent mass political mobilization, and inspired democratic movements around the world.

Featuring insights from leading historians and scholars, including:

- Colin Barr (University of Notre Dame)

- Cornelius Buttimer (University College Cork)

- Claire Connolly (University College Cork)

- Niamh Gallagher (University of Cambridge)

- Patrick Geoghegan (Trinity College Dublin)

- Anne Hodge (National Gallery of Ireland)

- Declan Kiberd (University of Notre Dame)

- Mary McAleese (Former President of Ireland)

- Chanté Mouton Kinyon (University of Notre Dame)

- Jay Roszman (University College Cork)

- Kevin Whelan (University of Notre Dame)

With newly uncovered archival material, an original score by Colm Mac Con Iomaire and vivid storytelling, Daniel O’Connell: The Emancipator reveals how O’Connell’s campaigns reshaped Ireland’s political and cultural landscape and positioned him as a model for later figures, including Frederick Douglass, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr.

“Daniel O’Connell was not only a transformative leader for Ireland,” said producer, writer, and director Ruán Magan. “His ideas and methods reverberated far beyond his time, influencing struggles for liberty, inclusion, and equality that continue today. This film seeks to reintroduce him to a new generation.”

The release of Daniel O’Connell: The Emancipator formed part of a year-long programme of commemorations honouring O’Connell’s 250th anniversary, inviting audiences to reflect on how his vision for justice and democracy continues to shape our world. The documentary kicked off a four-year long research project on “Global O’Connell,” led by the University of Notre Dame’s Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, culminating in 2029, the 200th anniversary of Catholic Emancipation in Ireland.

The documentary premiered in December 2025 on RTÉ, with further screenings, educational events, and discussions in Ireland, Europe, and the United States as a part of the University of Notre Dame's Global Network.